She nodded. “I want to hear all about her someday.”
He took one last look around, still surprised, and then followed her back through the house. “I need to stop at the grocery store. Cody has the grill heating up and wanted me to get some steaks. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. I’m ready when you are.”
Inside the house, he stopped her, slid his hands around her hips, and said, “I’ll be ready after I get a kiss from you.”
She giggled as she looked up at him. “I wanted to jump you in the backyard but Mrs. Simms was watching us from her back window.”
He laid his lips on hers, enjoying the enthusiasm she put into their kiss. She stroked his tongue with hers and wrapped her arms around his neck so he could lift her off her feet. She smelled like sunshine and flowers, all mixed together with just a hint of earthy, womanly musk that made him want to beat his chest and growl like a caveman.
Her lips were a little swollen and rosy when he pulled back and set her on her feet. “Did you sleep this morning? Were you sore today?”
She caressed the back of his head with her fingertips and said, “I slept for a few hours before I went to the rose garden. I feel fine but I am a little sore. It’s not bad. That was just more activity than I’m used to. Did the three of you talk?”
“We did. We’re letting you rest tonight and we’ll have you home at a decent hour this evening.”
Her pouty little lip and frown made him want to laugh. “But I wanted to play tonight.”
Spencer chuckled as he nibbled at her pouty lip. “I never said we weren’t playing.”
“Oh, good. And my neighbor would probably approve if you had me home at a decent hour.”
“That’s one of the issues we talked about. We’ll explain at home.”
She locked up the house and followed him outside with a small tote bag slung over her shoulder. She waved at her neighbor who smiled and waved back at her. Spencer opened her door for her and helped her in and noticed the neighbor smiled when she saw him do that.
Score one point for the bears!
At the grocery store, he parked close to the entrance and said, “I’ll be right back.”
She pulled her wallet from her tote bag and said, “I need to get some things as well. I want to make a dessert for the three of you.”
He hesitated for a second. “Could I just get the stuff you need?”
Maizy looked at him and gave him a knowing smile. “Cody?”
“Yes. He wants to wait until after we’ve all talked.”
“It’s okay. We’re just running into the store for a minute on a Sunday evening. The place looks half-deserted anyway. You get what you need, I’ll get what I need, and we’ll meet back here. How’s that?”
He didn’t feel good about it, but neither did he feel good about leaving her to sit in the truck in the sun. “Okay. But I want to pay for whatever you buy. Cody would insist. Your money is no good here.”
Maizy rolled her eyes and slid her wallet back down into her tote out of sight. He opened her truck door for her and she smiled at him when he grabbed a cart and pushed it through the store. She gathered what she needed and met him in the produce department. He looked in the cart and said, “We haven’t had homemade peach cobbler since we left home.”
“You know what they say about men’s hearts and their stomachs.”
“We’re putting in an express lane for you, baby,” he whispered, enjoying the way she blushed.
She suddenly gasped and moved right up against him, peeking under his arm, and whispered, “Shoot. Tabitha Lester is right behind you. She’s minding her own business but if she sees me that won’t last.”
“Gotcha. Feet up on the cart and hold on, baby.” She did as he asked and he could hear her holding back a giggle as he dollied her down the aisle and took the first turn into the floral department. He stopped the cart and she let out a sigh of relief as she hopped off and hugged him.
“That was close.” At the frozen foods aisle she stopped him. “Do you have vanilla ice cream?”
“No, I think what we have in the freezer at home is chocolate or rocky road.”
“That won’t do. You’ll want vanilla.” They turned onto the aisle and were debating between Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla and Breyer’s French Vanilla when an unfamiliar voice said, “Hello, Miss Owen. And how are you this evening?”
Maizy grimaced and the color drained out of her cheeks. Spencer thought she did an amazing job of recovering her voice and composure as she turned to the woman speaking to her. “Hello, Mrs. Dumphrey. I’m doing very well, and you?”